Amazon has been the forerunner in getting consumers to trade privacy for convenience, at least in the ecommerce sector. Amazon’s new AI-powered shopping feature called “Help Me Decide,” which it described as follows, highlights how much data from shoppers it collects and stores – and the degree to which it makes shopping on its marketplace convenient:
“If you’ve been browsing through similar products but haven’t made a purchase, the “Help Me Decide” button will appear at the top of the product detail page. With a tap, Help Me Decide analyzes your browsing activity, searches, shopping history, and preferences to recommend the right product for you. You can also access Help Me Decide by tapping “Keep shopping for” on the homepage to pick up where you left off.”
In providing an example, it becomes crystal clear just how well Amazon thinks (or does) know you:
“For example, if you’re looking for a new camping tent, Help Me Decide will analyze the tents you’ve already viewed along with other details from your shopping history. If you’ve recently browsed for adult and kids’ sleeping bags that stay warm at cold temperatures, looked at large stoves for car camping, and purchased hiking boots for your children, Help Me Decide may recommend an all-season, four-person tent that’s warm and spacious enough for your whole family’s upcoming adventure.”
Help Me Decide picks the best product for you with just one tap, it said. And if you want to see more options, you can explore an “upgrade pick” and a “budget option.”
Amazon said the new feature is currently available to millions of US customers in the Amazon Shopping app (iOS and Android) and mobile browser. “You’ll know if you have the Help Me Decide feature by visiting “Keep shopping for” at the top of the Amazon Shopping app or on the detail page once you’ve viewed multiple products within a category.”
Amazon announced the new feature on Wednesday and included screenshots to see visually how it works on a mobile device.